Video games started off as arcade machines in the early eighties and were available only in designated areas. However, in the nineties, they migrated to game consoles, and with the emergence of high-speed internet access, they have become one of the most popular entertainment items for millions of people worldwide.

This has all made gaming a very attractive industry. However, the market has expanded far beyond the reach of companies and corporations that produce and distribute computer games: due to online platforms like Steam, an entire economy-within-an-economy has emerged. Surprisingly enough for many, it dealt with so-called skins rather than with real money.